The Labor enquirer., 1887-12-24

alienable rights. ve aim q u abolItion u I
system which eompels them to pay theil
fellow creaturesfor the nee Of 0odn eift % al
and permits monopolies 70 deprive labor d
lis natural opportunities lbr employment
thus filling the land with trampsand poupers
and bringing about an unnaAurh competl
tion, which tends to reduce wages 70 starva,
tion rates and TO make the wealth h-psodueez
the Industrial slave ofthose who grow rioh
by his toll
Holding, moreover, that the advantages
arising from social growth and improvement
belong TO society AZ large, We aim ct the abol-
iiion Of the system which makessuch benen-
cent inventions as the railrnad and telegraph
means for the oppression Of the people and
the aggrandizement Of an aristocncy Of
wealth and power.
We declare the true purpose Of government
to be the maintenance OF that sacfed right q
property which gives TO every one opportu-
nifty to employ his labor and security that he
shall enjoy its fruits; 10 prevent the strong
nom Expressing the weak and the unscrupu-
lous from robbing the honest; and 70 do for
the equal benefit Of all such things ~ can be
better done by Organized socisty than BY in
dividuals; and We aim 1t the abolition Of al
laws which give TO any olass Of citizens IN ad-
vantage. either judicial, nnanci<, industrial
or political, that are not equally shared BY
all others.
We call upon all who seek the emancipation
oflabor and who would mats the American
Union and Its component states democratic
commonwealths Of really free and independ-
ent citizens, to Ignore all minor differences
and Join with rs In organizing . great ns-
tional paaty on this broai platform of nat
ural righ, and eqnal justice
We do not aim at securing any forced
equality in the distribution Of wealth. We
do not propose that the state shsll attempt to
control production, conduct distribution. or
In anywise interfere with the equal rights OF
Others. Nor do We propose that the state
shall take possession OF land and either work
1t or rent 1t out
What we propose is not the disturbing Of
any man In his holding or title. but by abol.
ishing slltaxes on industry or it, products
70 leave to the producer the full fruits Of his
exertion, and by taxation Of land values to
the exclusion Improvements, to devote to
the common use those values which. arising
not from exertioA Of the individual, but from
growth Of society, belong to the community
as whole. This increased to xation OF land.
not according to Its area, but according TO its
value, must, while relieving working farmers
and small homestead owners Of the undue
burdens now imposed upon them, make It
improbable to hold land for speculation. and
thus throw open abundant opportunities for
the employment Of labor and the building up
of homes.
while thus simplifying government, by
doing away with horde of officials required
by the present system Of taxntion, with its
Incentives 10 fraud and corruption. we vould
iurther promote Uncommon veal and fur.
ther secure equal rights ofall by placing I'M.
der public control such agencies a. are in
their nature monopolies. We would have
our municipalities supply their inhabitants
with water, light and heat; we would have
the general government issue all money with.
out the Intervention Of banks; we would add
apostal telegraph system and postal savings
banks to the postal service, and would as
sumo public control and ownership OF those
iron roads which have become highways Of
modern commerce.
While declaring the foregoing to be the fun
damental principles and aims of the United
Labor Party, and while conscious that no re-
form can give effectual and permanent relief
10 labor that does not involve legal recogni.
tion OF equal rights to natural opportunities,
we nevertheless, as measures Of relief from
some OF the evil effects Of ignoring those
rights, favor such legislation as may tend to
reduce the hours of labor, to prevent employ-
ment of children Of tender years. to avoid
competition of convict labor with honest in
dustry, to secure sanitary inspection Of tene
ments, factories and mines, and to put IN
end to the abuse ofthe conspiracy laws.
We desire also to simplify he procedure Of
our courts, and diminish the expenses of le-
gal proceedings, that the poor may be naceu
on an equality with the rich, and the long
delays which now result in such scandalous
mis'%rIisges OF justice may be prevented; !;
ahd since the ballot is the only means by
which, In our republic, the redress OF political
and social grievances is to be sou.n.. w,
especially end emphatically declare for the
adoption OF Whstis known as the "Austra-
Ian system OF voting" in order that the
effectual secrecy of the ballot and the relief
ofcandidates for public ofiices from the heavy
expenses now imposed upon them may pre-.
vent bribery and intimidation, do away
the practical discrimination in favor ~: :ae
rich and the unscrupulous, and .essen the
pernicious influence OF money n politics.
In support Of these aims wesolicit the CO
operation Of all patriotic citizens who, sick
OF the degradation Of politics, desire by con-
stitutional methods to establish Justice, to
preserve liberty, to extend the spirit offrater-
nifty, and to elevate humanity.
PLATFORM OF THE PROGRESSIVE
LABOR PARTY.
AT meeting held in Webster
Hall New VorL Co0%oc1ha.